Wisdom of Solomon, 8

1. Strongly she reaches from one end of the world to the other and she governs the whole world for its good.

1. Wisdom reacheth from one end to another mightily: and sweetly doth she order all things.

2. Wisdom I loved and searched for from my youth; I resolved to have her as my bride, I fell in love with her beauty.

2. I loved her, and sought her out from my youth, I desired to make her my spouse, and I was a lover of her beauty.

3. She enhances her noble birth by sharing God's life, for the Master of All has always loved her.

3. In that she is conversant with God, she magnifieth her nobility: yea, the Lord of all things himself loved her.

4. Indeed, she shares the secrets of God's knowledge, and she chooses what he will do.

4. For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a lover of his works.

5. If in this life wealth is a desirable possession, what is more wealthy than Wisdom whose work is everywhere?

5. If riches be a possession to be desired in this life; what is richer than wisdom, that worketh all things?

6. Or if it be the intellect that is at work, who, more than she, designs whatever exists?

6. And if prudence work; who of all that are is a more cunning workman than she?

7. Or if it be uprightness you love, why, virtues are the fruit of her labours, since it is she who teaches temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude; nothing in life is more useful for human beings.

7. And if a man love righteousness her labours are virtues: for she teacheth temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude: which are such things, as en can have nothing more profitable in their life.

8. Or if you are eager for wide experience, she knows the past, she forecasts the future; she knows how to turn maxims, and solve riddles; she has foreknowledge of signs and wonders, and of the unfolding of the ages and the times.

8. If a man desire much experience, she knoweth things of old, and conjectureth aright what is to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and can expound dark sentences: she foreseeth signs and wonders, and the events of seasons and times.

9. I therefore determined to take her to share my life, knowing that she would be my counsellor in prosperity and comfort me in cares and sorrow.

9. Therefore I purposed to take her to me to live with me, knowing that she would be a counsellor of good things, and a comfort in cares and grief.

10. 'Thanks to her, I shall be admired by the masses and honoured, though young, by the elders.

10. For her sake I shall have estimation among the multitude, and honour with the elders, though I be young.

11. I shall be reckoned shrewd as a judge, and the great will be amazed at me.

11. I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be admired in the sight of great men.

12. They will wait on my silences, and pay attention when I speak; if I speak at some length, they will lay their hand on their lips.

12. When I hold my tongue, they shall bide my leisure, and when I speak, they shall give good ear unto me: if I talk much, they shall lay their hands upon their mouth.

13. By means of her, immortality will be mine, I shall leave an everlasting memory to my successors.

13. Moreover by the means of her I shall obtain immortality, and leave behind me an everlasting memorial to them that come after me.

14. I shall govern peoples, and nations will be subject to me;

14. I shall set the people in order, and the nations shall be subject unto me.

15. at the sound of my name fearsome despots will be afraid; I shall show myself kind to the people and valiant in battle.

15. Horrible tyrants shall be afraid, when they do but hear of me; I shall be found good among the multitude, and valiant in war.

16. 'When I go home I shall take my ease with her, for nothing is bitter in her company, when life is shared with her there is no pain, nothing but pleasure and joy.'

16. After I am come into mine house, I will repose myself with her: for her conversation hath no bitterness; and to live with her hath no sorrow, but mirth and joy.

17. Having meditated on all this, and having come to the conclusion that immortality resides in kinship with Wisdom,

17. Now when I considered these things in myself, and pondered them in my heart, how that to be allied unto wisdom is immortality;

18. noble contentment in her friendship, inexhaustible riches in her activities, understanding in cultivating her society, and renown in conversing with her, I went all ways, seeking how to get her.

18. And great pleasure it is to have her friendship; and in the works of her hands are infinite riches; and in the exercise of conference with her, prudence; and in talking with her, a good report; I went about seeking how to take her to me.

19. I was a boy of happy disposition, I had received a good soul as my lot,

19. For I was a witty child, and had a good spirit.

20. or rather, being good, I had entered an undefiled body;

20. Yea rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled.

21. but, realising that I could never possess Wisdom unless God gave her to me, -a sign of intelligence in itself, to know in whose gift she lay -- I prayed to the Lord and entreated him, and with all my heart I said:

21. Nevertheless, when I perceived that I could not otherwise obtain her, except God gave her me; and that was a point of wisdom also to know whose gift she was; I prayed unto the Lord, and besought him, and with my whole heart I said,